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Why does the Torah (תורה) say the purpose of the plagues is "so you shall tell your children...and then you will know I am Hashem (ה׳)"—shouldn't knowing come before telling? The shiur develops the principle that parents ultimately become what their children are, since children represent our continuity. When we guide our children onto the right path through sippur yetzias Mitzrayim, we inevitably follow that same path ourselves.
The shiur analyzes a fundamental question from the verse in Parshas Bo (Shemos 10:2) describing the purpose of the ten plagues: "lema'an tesaper be'oznei bincha uven bincha es asher hisalalti beMitzrayim ve'es ososi asher samti vam vidatem ki ani Hashem (ה׳)" - "so that you shall tell in the ears of your son and grandson how I toyed with the Egyptians and the signs that I brought against them, and then you will know that I am Hashem." The apparent difficulty is that the sequence seems backwards. Logically, one would expect that first the miracles and plagues would cause a person to know that Hashem is God, and then, as a result of that knowledge, the person would transmit this understanding to their children and grandchildren. However, the Torah (תורה) presents the opposite order: first you tell your children about what Hashem did in Egypt, and then—as a consequence of that telling—you yourself will come to know that Hashem is God.
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Why does Moshe respond to the splitting of the sea with shirah rather than praise or thanksgiving? Rashi's use of "al libo" reveals that shirah is an emotional expression—a response of love to love. When Hashem shows personal care, the only adequate response is "I love You too," not mere gratitude or praise, and this principle applies to all relationships.
Shemos 10:2
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Why didn't Noach daven for his generation while Avrohom advocated for Sedom? Noach viewed each person as an independent island responsible only for their own teshuvah. Avrohom understood that all humanity is interconnected through shared perspective and values, making prayer for others both possible and necessary.
